Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.
As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.
While a strange atmosphere was flowing among the examinees, a voice echoed.
"It seems everyone has gathered."
A man was already standing on the platform.
He had light blonde hair and golden eyes, and was wearing a roughly put-together uniform.
"My name is Albi."
The examinees drew in their breath.
"Could it be Albi, the wizard of the Eye of Maan?"
Celia also wore a look of shock.
He is a wizard hero whose name is listed in the Hero Record.
'Is this what they call a hero of this era?'
Leo carefully observed Albi.
More precisely, he looked at Albi's left eye.
The power residing in his left eye.
'This mana?'
While Leo was surprised, Albi took out a piece of paper from his pocket.
"There are a total of 569 examinees participating in this year's Western Region entrance exam."
Adjusting his glasses, he continued.
"The types of exams are one-on-one combat and monster extermination. Originally, the exams would be conducted one by one. To be honest, I find this method... "
Albi burned the paper with magic.
"Bothersome."
Murmurs of surprise filled the air.
"It takes too much time and is inefficient. So I thought, why not combine everything?"
"What?"
Celia was flustered.
The other examinees felt the same way.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. I will start the exam right now."
Albi took out an old book from his pocket.
"Hero Record open. Albi's world. Chapter: Prologue - The Forest of Monsters."
Whoosh!
A giant symbol appeared on the floor.
It was a divine language that the residents of the lower realm could not read.
Whoosh!
A bright light enveloped the surroundings.
After the light disappeared, the scenery had changed.
A dense forest.
It felt like they had entered another world.
'Actually, it is another world.'
"That place is the Forest of Monsters. The exam content is to survive there. Other than that, you have complete freedom. You can cooperate to defeat monsters or knock out your competitors; it doesn't matter. If you want to give up the exam, break the gem in your pocket."
The Forest of Monsters.
A real forest located in the southern part of the continent.
However, Leo was not there.
This place is a manifestation of a hero's memory.
More precisely, it is a world created from the memory of the examiner, Albi.
'This is not just an illusion.'
Although it is a virtual world, everything that happens here is real.
A miracle gifted by the gods to the lower realm.
The true value of the Hero Record.
The power to recreate a hero's trials.
'The world of heroes.'
This power was known 3000 years ago.
On the day known as the Resurrection of the Catastrophe.
Until then, the Hero Record was merely a record.
However, the discovery that the Hero Record could manifest the 'world of heroes' brought about a transformation in the world.
Some say,
The true era of heroes began 3000 years ago.
By overcoming the trials faced by past heroes through the Hero Record, one could receive rewards.
That reward was the inheritance of power.
Whether it was a weapon, a skill, or a special ability unique to that hero.
By completing the challenge, one could inherit the power of the protagonist of that world.
'An unbelievable ability.'
It was also the reason the gods gifted the Hero Record to the lower realm.
'A system to literally cultivate heroes.'
A power to prevent the world from being destroyed like it was 5000 years ago.
It was also the reason why the four hero academies, including Lumern, were special.
Human Hero Academy Lumern.
Elf Hero Academy Seilun.
Merfolk Hero Academy Azonia.
Dwarf Hero Academy Demian.
These academies all house the Hero Records of their respective races.
And Leo's goal is to see the Hero Records of the four hero academies.
The divine miracle that can recreate past events.
'The Hero Record will surely tell me what happened to the sealed Erebus and Tartarus.'
Leo clenched and unclenched his fists.
'Right now, the exam is the priority.'
He narrowed his eyes and looked around.
Celia, who was beside him, was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed they had been scattered when they entered the world of heroes.
'Anyway, the Forest of Monsters.'
This place is a real terrain and a well-known location.
The southern part of the continent is a vast desert.
The Forest of Monsters is a huge forest located in the middle of that desert.
If a country surrounded the forest, it would naturally covet it.
However, the Forest of Monsters remains an unexplored territory.
The monsters living in the forest are mostly low-level ones like goblins, orcs, and trolls.
If an army were sent, it could be conquered.
However, people gave up on conquering it due to the endless number of monsters.
'The curse of this forest still hasn't been lifted.'
Leo had been to this forest before.
It was the homeland of Luna, a companion of Kail.
Until 5000 years ago, this place was an elf forest.
However, it was corrupted by the curse of the monster queen Silatuna of Tartarus.
5000 years ago.
The extermination team defeated Silatuna but failed to kill her.
The queen's curse has continued for thousands of years.
Thinking of Luna, who believed that her descendants would one day kill Silatuna and save their homeland, Leo smiled bitterly.
'The curse of that damn woman seems to have weakened.'
5000 years ago, this forest was one of the greatest threats on earth.
A never-ending parade of monsters from the depths.
The monster army that threatened all life was formed in this forest.
Compared to then, the current situation is heaven.
'Let's focus on the exam. The examiner clearly said it's free, right?'
Whether you knock out your competitors or defeat monsters.
Everything is left to the examinees.
'If someone has a brain, they wouldn't want to fight and risk danger in this forest.'
Even low-level monsters can appear anywhere at any time.
You could get into danger while fighting.
'Well, there will be some who don't care about that.'
A prime example is Celia.
She possesses overwhelming skills that surpass the average level of the other examinees.
A week ago, Leo knocked her out with just two hits.
However, that was only because she was off guard.
If she had fought with full strength, it would have been a tough match even for the current Leo.
'Especially in a real battle, I wouldn't stand a chance.'
Shrugging his shoulders, Leo drew his sword.
'Anyway, let's look for Celia first.'
Cooperation is also free.
So it would be easier to move together.
With that in mind, Leo leaped forward.
Whoosh!
An arrow of wind pierced the spot where Leo had been.
Turning his head, he saw a familiar girl with a staff standing there.
Abad's younger sister, Chelsea Levalin.
"Do we know each other?"
"Yeah, but why did you suddenly attack?"
"We are competitors, right? I didn't expect you to dodge that attack."
Chelsea shrugged.
"Showing yourself to a swordsman. Isn't that too relaxed?"
"I'm fine. I'm well-prepared."
Chelsea wore a relaxed expression.
Indeed, she was well-prepared.
Wind scythes were swirling around her.
Approaching her carelessly would result in being cut.
'A magic that didn't exist in the past.'
Leo stroked his chin.
If there was one field that had changed drastically compared to the past, it was magic.
The overall framework of aura and summoning magic hadn't changed.
But magic was different.
Magic is a field of study before it is a domain of power.
All spells have been endlessly researched and improved.
As a result, the magic system of the past and the present are completely different.
Most of the spells Leo knew were treated as ancient magic.
'Well, the basics seem to be the same.'
Seeing Leo's relaxed demeanor, Chelsea squinted her eyes.
"Still so relaxed in front of me?"
Chelsea's skills far exceeded the average level of the mages taking the Lumern entrance exam.
She was the type of examinee who would act recklessly in the situation Leo had described.
"I have a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"This exam rewards those who survive longer, right? How about we cooperate? As a mage, it would be better to have a front-line fighter, wouldn't it?"
Chelsea smiled.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm a 'battle mage.' I don't need a front-line fighter."
Battle mage.
A mage who participates in combat rather than casting spells from the back.
"Wind Scythe."
With a short incantation, Chelsea's eyes gleamed.
"And I don't want to cooperate with someone from the Zerdinger family."
"I'm not exactly from the Zerdinger family."
"Still, you were hanging around Celia Zerdinger, right? So there's no reason to cooperate. Slice-!"
Chelsea stuck out her tongue.
Given their rival family relationship, it seemed she had no intention of cooperating.
"You won't cooperate?"
"Of course not."
Chelsea pointed her staff at Leo, and that was the signal for the spell to activate.
Wind scythes flew at an incredible speed.
Leo extended his sword forward.
Whoosh! Bang!
The sound of metal grinding and sparks flying.
'You blocked it? There was no sign of aura being used.'
Chelsea was on guard.
'It seems to be an aura that can't be easily detected! I need to be careful.'
Chelsea mistakenly thought Leo was using aura.
It was impossible to block a 2nd circle spell without using aura.
But Leo didn't block the Wind Scythe.
'The power is strong and flashy, but it's monotonous.'
He read the magic trajectory and deflected the attack with his sword.
As long as the magic had physical force and wasn't overwhelmingly powerful, this response was possible.
Of course, it wasn't a simple technique.
One had to perfectly read the trajectory of the magic.
But for a great hero like him, it wasn't a difficult skill.
"Wind Scythe! Wind Arrow!"
Whoosh!
A whirlwind blew around Chelsea.
With her hair flying, Chelsea said,
"Why don't you surrender before I draw blood? Blocking this attack will be tough, right?"
"I'll admit the power of your magic."
Leo shrugged.
"But for a wind mage, your attacks are too monotonous."
Chelsea's face turned red.
"Are you lecturing me about magic, a direct descendant of the Levalin family?"
Chelsea sneered.
"Hmph. I won't look at you anymore. I'll eliminate you by force!"
Swinging her staff, the magic in the air was released.
Rushing wind scythes and arrows.
Wind magic is the most visually subtle magic.
It's almost invisible to the naked eye.
That's why it's considered one of the strongest offensive magic when combined with fire.
But to Leo, the magical wind was clearly visible.
Leo curled his lips and tensed his legs.
"Too simple."
Crack!
Leo's body disappeared as if it had vanished.
The magic, having lost its target, faltered.
'Fast! Where?'
Chelsea quickly used a mana detection spell.
As a battle mage, her response was quick.
But there was something Chelsea didn't expect.
Leo doesn't use aura.
Naturally, there was no residual mana from aura on Leo.
This allowed him to close the distance in an instant.
"Huh?"
Seeing Leo appear in front of her, Chelsea tried to react quickly.
Thud!
"Gasp?"
But Leo's punch to her abdomen was faster.
Watching Chelsea fall unconscious, Leo muttered,
"Well, let's try to persuade her."
Orc-like monsters are no problem.
But Leo lacked the firepower to deal with large monsters like trolls.
'Fortunately, a powerful mage has appeared. It would be good to cooperate, right?'
Leo cut some vines from the surroundings.
Snap! He pulled on the vines.
"Hmm. They're strong."
Satisfied with the strength of the vines, Leo looked down at the unconscious Chelsea with an evil smile.